Spring hinge for car doors



May 25 192@c I. BATH SPRING HNGE FOR CAR DOORS FLEX" /f Patented May Z5, 1926.

CHARLES E. :DATI-I, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNQR. BY MESCNE ASSIGNMENTS, TOv W. H. MINER, INC., A. CORRATION F DELAVJARE.

SPRING '.EINGE FOR/CAR DOORS.

`Application filed September r vvention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

In the drawing forming a part of this speciication, `Figure 1 is a side elevational O view of a portion ot a refrigerator car showing my improvements in connection therewith. And Figure 2 is a horizont-al, sectional view corresponding substantially to the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

In said drawing, the side wall oit the car is indicated at 10, the same having the usual side door opening tor a pair ot pivotally hung doors 11 and 12, the latter swinging about vertical axes in the usual manner and having beveled engaging faces at their meeting edges. The door 11 is closed first and retained in closed position by a pivoted latch 13. The door 12 is swung to closed position last and is held in closed position by any suitable mechanism, as `for instance, the shaft 14; and brackets 15.

In carrying out my invention, I employ a plurality of hinges on each door, one or more ot which are provided with spring means acting to hold the door in opened po sition. As shown, each of the doors 11 and 12 is preferably provided with three hinges, A, B and C, the hinges A and C being disposed at the upper and lower ends of each door and the hinges B intermediate the hinges A and C.

The hinges A and B are ot like construction, each comprising a pair of hinge straps 16 and 17 respectively secured to one ot the doors and the side wall of the car by any suitable means such as screws 18. Each strap 16 is shown as provided with three hinge pin receiving eyes 19 and each strap 17is shown as provided with `tour hinge pin receiving eyes 20, the openings oi2 the 7, 1923. Serial No. 661,348.

eyes of the straps of each hinge member being in alinenient when the hinge straps are in assembled relation and attached vto the frame and respective doors.

rllhe hinge straps of the hinges A and B oit' each door are preferably connected by a single vertically disposed pivot rod 21 eX- tending through the eyes ot each hinge and having a helically forinedsection 22 intermediate the hinge members A and B. The upper and lower ends of the rod 21 are eX- tended beyond the respective hinges A and B and bent at right angles thereto as indiated at 23 and 24. The angularly bent portions 23 and 24: of each rod 21 extend in opposite directions and are liXed to the car wall and the corresponding door respec tively, the saine being preferably secured by staple bolts 25 anchored in the wall'10 and the` corresponding door respectively, the cnrved ends ot ywhich receive the respective bent ends 23 and 24. Each rod 21 is preferably itormed of spring steel and the helical-l ly ;tormed section oi' the same serves as spring means tending to hold the door in opened position. The parts are so arranged that the springs are under considerable tension when the doors are in opened position so that there is a tendency of the helical sections ot the rods to uncoil, thereby yieldingly maintaining the doors in open position until manually swung to closed position. It will be evident that, in closing either door, due to the opposite ends of the rod 21 associated therewith being anchored to the door and car wall respectively, the rod will be twisted in a direction to draw the coils of the helical section thereo3 more closely together, thereby increasing the torsional tension on the rod and increasing the tendency of the same to swing the door to fully opened position when released by the operator.

rlhe hinge C at the lower end of each door ot the usual construction, comprising a pair oi" hinge straps 116 and 117 secured respectively to the corresponding door and car wall 10 by screws or any other suitable means, the straps being provided with a plurality ot eyes 119 and 120 respectively, receiving the hinge pin 126 by which the straps are pivotally connected.

Although each door is herein shown and described as provided with three hinges, the hinge sections or" two of which are pivotally connected by a single spring rod, it will be evident that the rod may be extended through all three hinges of each door.

I have herein shown and described What I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention, but the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a railway car door1 structure, the

combination with a door 'frame providing vportions outside of said hinges, Vone of said angular portions being secured to the frame, and the other to said door, said angular portions being urged toward each other by said helical portion to pull said door through an angle of substantially 1530o from closed position to a position against the side Wall of the car, said resilient means being arranged to-lie beyond said door when in open position and maint-ain said door against said side Wall.

2. In a railway ear structure, the combination with a frame providing a door opening; of a door Jfor closing said opening; means for pivotally connecting said door to the frame, said means including a hinge comprising hinge straps having 3o-operating knuckles on the outer faces of said door and frame; and spring means under tension, including alportion extending through said knuckles and providing a pintle for said hinge straps, said portion having an angular extension at one side of said hinge secured to the outer faces of said door, and another portion atthe opposite side of said hinge secured to said frame, said spring means being` arranged to pull said door by means ot' said connections 'from closed position to a posiv tion against the car side Walhsaid spring means land said hinge being arranged to he disposed behind the door when in open position; and means ifor locking said door in closed position.

3. In a railway car door structure, the combination with a door frame; of a door ifor closing an opening provided by said frame; means for pivotally mounting said door on saidy frame, said means including hinge straps on said door and frame having interengaging portions; and a rod extending through said inter-engaging portions to provide the hinge pintle, said rod having a fixed connection at one end oit' the door and a fixed connection at the other end with said frame, whereby swinging of said door imparts torsional twist-ing in opposite directions to the ends of said rod, said rod having a helical coil formed therein, the opposite ends of which are connected to the end portions' or" said rod, and the portions of the coils lying at an angle to said rod and adapted to be operated by the turning movement of the ends of said rod.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this lst day of September, 1923. I

CHARLES E. DATH. 

